After the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to one of the best teams in the MLB on Sunday, there remains a significant conclusion from that series. Conclusion number one: Here comes the New York Mets. However, conclusion number two: a former superstar no longer deserves to be on the team—Michael Conforto.
Dodgers Outfielder Could Be Cut Soon
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Expensive Outfielder Has Done Nothing Good for LA This Season
Conforto was possibly one of the most significant additions for LA this season. The 32-year-old outfielder finally looked like his former self after a much better season with the San Francisco Giants. Conforto signed a one-year, 17 million-dollar deal with the Dodgers as the Dodgers looked for better outfielders. Conforto had previously been a superstar with the Mets, hitting 27, 28, and 33 home runs from 2017-19. In 2020, Conforto’s power and average remained good.
However, in 2021, Conforto failed to live up to expectations after a 14 home run, .232 average season. The problem was that New York expected Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor plus Conforto to work out. When that didn’t work, things only got worse for Conforto. He missed all of 2022 and then was again mediocre in 2023. In 2024, Conforto’s average didn’t improve much.
However, his power looked like it might have returned, especially after 10 homers in the final two months of the season. However, this season, things have gotten much worse for Conforto, who is looking terrible.
Conforto’s Production Is Becoming Non-Existent
This season, Conforto’s average is at just .163. In addition to this, Conforto in 48 games has just two home runs and six RBIs, the kind of production you would expect from a utility player. Even then, most utility players will have a better average than that. Another thing that only makes Conforto look worse is his 52 strikeouts in just 153 at-bats.
Soon, it is clear that the Dodgers will no longer need to have Conforto on the team. Perhaps LA’s patience will become a major factor for Conforto. However, it is clear nonetheless that LA’s other options are better. Tommy Edman, Andy Pages, and Teoscar Hernandez have done more than enough to get starting roles every day. The only problem that remains at the moment is the lack of outfielders that could replace Conforto. However, it would be better to go out and sign a free agent than to get this kind of production from Conforto.
The Dodgers, Who Began the Season Unbeatable, Look Very Beatable
One thing is for sure: the Dodgers are a human team. At the beginning of the season, the Dodgers were a team that many thought could become one the best ever after a flaming start. However, the Dodgers’ problems have begun to pop up. Millions of pitchers are on the IL, Mookie Betts has been pretty average (why was he ranked as the second-best player?), and the Dodgers don’t seem to look better than teams like the Mets.
Conforto seems to represent the Dodgers well, as LA has overall lacked much, and overall would like to see more offense and defense. One thing seems obvious: the Dodgers don’t have the magic that at one point in the season the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Mets had. No one wants to cut a former superstar. But when a random fellow on the street can provide better production, then teams are pushed into a corner and faced with a hard decision.
Conforto’s average, power, and strikeouts only continue to get worse, and unless he begins to hit better than that fellow on the street, he will be cut soon.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
